How to Network at Your Office - The Muse

How to Network at Your Office - The MuseHow to Network at Your Office Throughout college, my mom told me I needed to network, to which I unfalteringly responded with mm hmm and a roll of my eyes. What could she possibly know about getting a job in the social media era?Almost three years post grad school, I will (slightly reluctantly) admit that nine times out of 10, it really is all about who you know. All those awkward alumni networking events, informational interviews, and cold emails do end up paying off. (Ugh, Mom, you win again.)That means if youre consistently networking, youre already on the right path- regardless of where you want that path to lead to next. But Id be willing to bet youre elend covering every base when it comes to increasing your professional circle. In fact, theres one obvious distribution policy you might never think to look- and its where you currently work. But why, you may ask, would I have one-on-one career conversations with people at my present day 9-t o-5 unless it has to do with the job at hand? Well there are two big reasons.Youll Expand Your Network- Without Putting in Much EffortRight now, the majority of your colleagues (excluding those who are lucky enough to have become your friend) are probably just that to you- colleagues. The sole role you associate them with is the one they have at work. But just like you, each of your team members has most likely had experience prior to this job, meaning they, too, have an entire professional network you can tap into. When you open the door to that guy from the IT department, you also open the door to people he knows. This could include past co-workers, individuals he met from volunteering, or friends hes made through his soccer team. Not to mention his family members, as well as a variety of other people hes met throughout his life. So by grabbing coffee with him during the workday, youre not just learning more about his job, but youre also expanding your own six-degrees-of-separatio n network. Maybe you cant tap into that when youre trying to leave your current standort (unless you get real close), but two jobs from now you certainly can.Take me for example When I was a graduate assistant, I mentioned off-hand to my boss that Id just learned about life coaching and wanted to know more about the field. Little did I know, both her aunt and a good friend of hers are life coaches. She connected me to both. Sure, more than three years later Im not pursuing that professionally, but I still have those connections should I choose that path one day. Youll Make Yourself More Valuable at Your Current JobNetworking isnt always about moving to the next company or landing your next gig. Yes, its obviously super helpful with that, especially when your application is one of 300. But it can also be equally as valuable with the position you have now, too. Its a great way to build new skills, improve current ones, explore areas of interest in a low-risk way, and build your reputa tion up in the office. When you take the time to learn about other teams and what they do on a daily basis, you may see an opportunity to fill a gap by utilizing a skill you have. This also works the opposite way. When you make an effort to reach out to people, they also get to know you, your capabilities, and your interests. So when they need assistance in their department, or even if they know another group that needs help, theyre more likely to suggest you take on the task. As you can guess, the more helpful you prove to be, the more your reputation will grow at the office as a talented and ambitious go-getter whos always willing to lend a hand. (Not a bad way to be known, especially during review-and-raise season)And if you need more proof, you dont have to look further than me. I love writing, but the majority of my job duties consist of numbers and PowerPoint presentations. After grabbing my morning coffee with a director in a different department and mentioning this fact, she reached out to me to draft some content for a product she needed help with. Had she not known I was interested in doing more writing, I wouldnt have gotten this opportunity. And without that experience, I wouldnt have applied for an editorial internship at The Muse. So, next time you find yourself with some empty space on your schedule, reach out to someone you dont know well and ask him or her to go on a meet-and-greet coffee date, grab lunch, or join you for a walk. Get to know this individual- more about his or her position and what he or she did before. Worst-case scenario? You have another friendly face at work. Best? See above. Need help with your networking strategy- in and out of the office? Check out career coaches who are trained to do just that.Photo of networking courtesy of Shutterstock.

Strategies for Saving Your Job After You Screw Up - The Muse

Strategies for Saving Your Job After You Screw Up - The MuseStrategies for Saving Your Job After You Screw Up So your performance review didnt quite go as expected, and now youre getting a bad feeling that you might be on the chopping block. While your mind jumps to conclusions about heading straight to the front of the unemployment line, there are more options than just accepting the writing on the wall. Here are some strategies for saving your job and using criticism to help shape you into a worker whose presence can hugely benefit the company. 1. Youre Slacking on the JobWere all guilty of over-promising and under-delivering on occasion, but youre likely aware of the difference between that and straight-up slacking. This probably comes as no surprise, but poor job performance is one of the top reasons employees are fired.It seems so obvious, yet your smartphone, the internet, and social media all make it so easy to fall prey to distraction. But trust me, spending too much of the w orkday on social media isnt likely to help you rack up any likes from your colleagues or teamberaters in the near future. How to Turn it AroundThe worst thing about slacking is that you inevitably build a reputation of being lazy. And once youve earned the label, it can be hard to shake off. Hopefully, though, the fear that you might potentially lose your job will be enough to inspire change. First you need to identify the root of the problem. Is it really just those pesky distractions like social media that are disrupting your workflow, or does it go deeper? Low motivation to complete certain tasks or duties can be a major issue and can hold you back from being successful even as you exceed expectations in other areas of the job. Figure out what responsibilities youre having a hard time meeting, and then devise a plan to help keep you on track for getting your work done (these questions can help you get started on that). It could be something as simple as reversing your order of op erations so you do the work you like least when youre feeling most productive. You cant change hearts and minds overnight, but if you find a consistent work groove that helps you deliver real results, eventually your slacker reputation (and that rumor you might be let go) will begin to fade. 2. You Failed to Deliver an Important Project on TimeYour Wi-Fi went out, you got in a huge fight with your significant other, Starbucks botched your morning coffee, and so on. Whatever the reason, little things in life can add up and keep us from getting our work done. When you miss a deadline, its easy to get ahead of yourself, panic and think your professional life is over (if you do, thats good- it means you care). We dont always hit our mark, and thats OK sometimes. But lose sight of too many due dates and youll find yourself in the hot seat in a jiffy. How to Turn it AroundFirst and foremost, take responsibility when you miss a deadline. Let your manager know that you understand the busine ss impact when you dont deliver your work on time, and then lay out a solution to prevent it from happening again. Come up with a plan to help you snag some quick, easy wins before you start developing a reputation around the amtsstube for missing deadlines. And definitely dont point the finger at anyone else. If theres one thing employers like less than someone who is unreliable, its someone who doesnt take accountability for their actions (or in this case, lack thereof). Plus, throwing your co-workers under the bus makes you generally unpleasant to work with and is way more likely to get you fired than any individual missed deadline. 3. You Got Into an Argument With an Unruly Client, and Now Theyre Threatening to Take Their Business ElsewhereYou give them special attention, make 11th hour revisions per their request, and take urgent weekend calls on the reg- but no matter how much effort and time you sink into their business, you just cant seem to make them happy. If youve worked with a difficult client before, this situation probably sounds all too familiar. When tired and stressed, your natural human instinct is to bounce into action, stand up, and fight for your work. But no matter how in the right you might be, you arent likely to win an argument with a customer- and now your little outburst has your client reaching out to your higher-ups threatening to pull their business.How to Turn it AroundThe first thing you should do is ask yourself how big of a screw-up this was. Talk to your teammates honestly about what happened. Get an opinion you can trust on whether you were crossing the line or just sticking up for your team. Next, look to asses the business impact. Was this client simply one of hundreds, or a quarter of your companys revenue? Finally, come up with a strategy to explain it to you boss. Share your side of the story and any relevant facts to back-up your case, but most importantly tell the truth. You were brought on board for a reason, and you r manager will respect you candor- even if you just lost a big chunk of business. 4. You Were Spreading Some Unsavory Company Gossip- and Got CaughtEvery office has its gossip (and a group of workers whove gained a reputation for spreading it around). Knowing the perils, you tried to steer clear of that crew. But despite your initial best efforts to avoid it, you somehow got wind of an unflattering secret about a colleague. Word got out about the rumor and who spread it, and now the entire company (not to mention your boss) thinks you are the source of all the gossip. Forget that opportunity for a promotion next month, now youre just worried about holding onto the job have. How to Turn it AroundThe most difficult part about bouncing back after being outed as an office gossiper is regaining the trust of your peers and supervisors. Many managers view this kind of talk as poisoning the company culture, and might now see you as a potential liability. Whether this was your first time or youre a routine offender, once youve been caught youll probably only going to get one chance to change before your boss starts looking for your replacement (and if the rumor was really malicious, you may not even get that). More than just holding onto a job here, its important to be an actual good person and offer a sincere apology to the subject of the gossip (especially if its embarrassing). You also definitely want to have a conversation with your supervisor to explain that you understand the severity of this type of behavior and make it clear that it wont happen again. The best way to keep to keep yourself off the unemployment list is to avoid falling behind in the first place (or getting caught up in an unfortunate interpersonal issue). Be proactive about your work before your get that poor performance review. But once youve gotten some candid feedback on where you stand, you can still turn things around by taking it to heart and communicating with your manager about where to g o from here. After all, if they really wanted you out then youd already be gone. If theyre still bringing you in on company meetings, assigning you new responsibilities, and giving you coaching- then they see your value and want you to step up to the plate and succeed.

Advancing Your Career in the Midst of Workplace Stress

Advancing Your Career in the Midst of Workplace Stress Advancing Your Career in the Midst of Workplace Stress 1. Define Your Career Mission and Pursue It This habit can be approached in a couple of ways. Philosophically, it challenges you to discover the unique role best suited to your talents, interests, and values, and it motivates you to succeed. However,  your career mission is also simply represented by your job description. The happiest professionals are those who understand their work and what it takes to do a good job. 2.  Be Visible and Express Expectations of Rewards You must make sure that management notices when you do good work and understands that you expect to be rewarded for your achievements. Employees frequently assume that their bosses know whats best when it comes to career advancement and that doing a really good job will automatically be acknowledged. Unfortunately, the truth is that many workers only generate attention when theyre a problem. If you really want to advance your career, you have to ask for what you want. Your manager isnt a mind reader, and waiting quietly to be recognized is the path to being passed over for a promotion. 3.  View Your Job as a Long-Term Consulting Assignment, Not a Permanent Placement Because organizations no longer guarantee lifetime employment, its important think of yourself as a contractor with a portfolio instead of a loyal employee. Your focus should be  on  doing excellent work, learning as much as possible from each position, and being ready to change jobs should the need arise. 4.  Take Some Risks Dont spend time waiting for recognition. Develop an explicit career path and turn management into your partner in advancing your career. 5.  Go with Your Instincts Trust your intuition as you plot your career. Logic has its place in the decision-making process, but whole-brained thinking will give you a balanced perspective on your career advancement that intellectual analysis alone cannot. 6.  Never Stop Networking A well-developed professional network can be a rich source of mentors and referrals for everything you need in your life. Your network can also provide objective insights for evaluating opportunities and problems. A solid network of contacts is valuable no matter the circumstances. 7. Negotiate and Cooperate The next time you are in a mood to take no prisoners, put yourself in your adversarys place. Suggest solutions that benefit both you and your coworkers. Even if you don’t receive exactly what you want in the short term, you wont be stuck with long-term enemies. 8.  Be Confident, Even when You Aren’t If you find yourself suffering from a crisis of confidence, remember that positive behavior can overtake negativity and pull you out of your rut. Your  behavior  not what youre feeling on the inside is what others see. Use your anxiety as an extra source of energy. 9.  Chase Only Those Goals That You Actually Desire When you begin to set goals to help advance your career, try testing their viability using the RUMBA method: Each goal should be Reasonable, Understandable, Measurable, Behavioral, and Agreed Upon. Meeting only the first four conditions isnt enough. You and everyone involved with your goal must agree that its a good idea. Goals should begin with “I want, not “I should…” 10. Live a Life of Work, Education, and Fun Living a life where these things are divided into different stages (e.g. learning as a child, working as an adult, having fun after retirement) leads to a stale existence and forces people to feel useless without their jobs. Never forget how to learn and enjoy yourself.